Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Lockdown will bring us closer
Lockdown has forced us to find things within ourselves we never knew we had and to appreciate things we have
on our doorsteps. This week I opened the kitchen door to let some fresh air in and stood f or a while, admiring the frost on the leaves and trees. I’ve never appreciated it before.
The world is changing but there are things we can embrace.
When I was growing up, everyone shopped locally.
My mum had a red book of all the neighbours’ shopping and, as the only young girl amongst boys and older people in the village, I did all their shopping for them every day.
Mum settled up with the baker, butcher, dairy farmer and hardware store at the end of each week. When we first went to Sainsbur y ’s, we thought it was amazing to have every
thing under the same roof. But such convenience led to the closure of so many local family businesses which was sad.
Now we see big businesses such as Debenhams folding. It’s a shame for shoppers like me who liked the store and for thousands of workers who have lost their job or face losing it.
We always have to look for positives. And maybe losing big chain stores will mean winning back small independent shops in our towns and villages and a return to personal service.
Shame on footie ‘role models’
Some footballers I’d like to have a word with include those who broke restrictions by throwing New Year parties.
There’s no point in fining them. What’s £10,000 to someone who earns
£250,000 a week? Instead, they should give a chunk of their wages to Marcus Rashford to help his campaign to feed children. And for at least a month the footballers should have to wear luminous vests instead of designer gear while emptying bins, picking up litter and cleaning graffiti.
They’re meant to be role models.
Is there no one in their lives that they love and feel the need to protect from this virus? Can’t they see our medical staff are exhausted but still fighting to keep us alive?
At the moment, absolutely no one needs a party.
If they have their health, that’s all anyone needs – especially yg right now.